Ancient Stones And Passage Tombs – A Ramble Around Knowth, County Meath

County Meath in Ireland is home to many prehistoric megalithic tombs built around 3200 BC. Newgrange is the most famous archaeological site in Ireland, but it’s neighboring site of Knowth is well worth a visit.

The Great mound covers two passage tombs, which quite literally go east and west. These two passages do not meet, but the interior tombs to which they lead lie very close together at the center of the mound.

Due to safety reasons visitors cannot currently enter either passage. However there is a chamber just south of the eastern passage, recreated by archaeologists which can be viewed.

And outside the entrance to one of the passages stands an ancient fertility stone. The interior surface of the stone has been rubbed smooth by our predecessors who believed a mere touch of this rock would ensure fertility in all aspects of their lives.

Our tour guide invited us to check out the stone. I didn’t hesitate to take up his invitation, but I should have known there would be a joker in the crowd.

All four of my kids looked on as I reached around the monument only to hear my fellow tourist shout out in true Dublin style:

“Would you look at all them kids!

Get her away from that stone!”

And I thought I had brought “a reasonable number of children” in accordance with the rules of my heritage pass.

And there you have it, a photographic tour and a little ramble around Knowth.

For more detailed information on this amazing heritage site check out these websites:

Patricia – I believe the smaller mounds were also burial chambers. The big shots had their ashes placed in the large mound and those of a lesser social standing were probably confined to the outer small mounds. Even 5000 years ago Ireland existed as a tiered society. All the best, Mairead

정인우 – Thank you for checking out my website, all the way from Korea. Thanks so much for following along on Pinterest, and Facebook too. It’s nice to know that people all over the world enjoy learning about my homeland. Best wishes, Mairéad